Super Junior’s Sungmin has opened up about his decade-long silence, revealing the emotional struggles he faced after his sudden marriage announcement in 2014.
The singer appeared on a special episode of KBS2’s The Return of Superman on October 7, where he spoke candidly about the pain, fear, and loneliness that followed one of the most controversial turning points in his career.
“I never talked about my true feelings not even to people close to me,” Sungmin confessed. “I was the first idol to get married, and I worried how fans would react. Before I could explain, the rumors spread and the articles came out. I didn’t know how to respond.”
As criticism mounted and online backlash intensified, Sungmin said he gradually withdrew from public life. “Seeing people hate me made me feel like I had nowhere to stand. I was scared because singing was the only thing I knew how to do.”
Sungmin explained that his marriage to actress Kim Sa-eun was a choice made out of love and protection but it came at the cost of his career. For nearly ten years, he remained away from group activities, struggling to rebuild his identity as an artist.
Kim Sa-eun, who also appeared in the broadcast, shared her side with heartfelt emotion. “He must have suffered more than I did. I always felt sorry like I was the reason he lost so much.”
Now a proud father to a son named Do-yoon, Sungmin said his child gave him the courage to start again. Hoping to reconnect with the stage, he transitioned into the trot genre South Korea’s classic, emotion-driven pop music.
He recalled struggling at first, admitting that early competition results were disappointing. Determined to improve, he spent four years training under veteran trot composer Lee Ho-seop, studying vocal technique from the basics.
The episode showed Sungmin diligently preparing for his upcoming performance on National Singing Contest, spending time with his son, and even cooking baby food himself showcasing his life as a devoted dad.
On the day of his performance, Sungmin stood on stage as a rookie trot singer singing in the rain for the few loyal fans who had come to cheer him on. His voice trembled not from fear, but from gratitude.
“I hope one day my son can watch me perform and say, ‘Dad, you were amazing,’” he said tearfully. “I’ve been a singer for 20 years, but I’m starting again from zero. Please don’t hate me just see me as a new artist and give me your support.”
Sungmin’s story is a rare and raw look into the emotional cost of idol fame and the quiet strength it takes to return after losing everything. His words, “I was scared because I had nowhere to stand,” echo beyond K-pop, resonating with anyone who has ever had to rebuild from the ground up.
Sources: Daum
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